St. Paul could become the latest American city to provide low-income residents with a guaranteed monthly income as part of a growing movement by mayors across the country to test-drive a policy they hope to see enacted at the federal level.
Mayor Melvin Carter announced during his budget address Thursday that he intends to use federal CARES Act money to fund a guaranteed income pilot program in St. Paul, which would give up to 150 families $500 a month for 18 months. It’s the latest in a series of mayoral initiatives offering a boost to the city’s poorest residents — including opening $50 college savings accounts for babies born in the city and providing emergency cash assistance to families and businesses that lost income as a result of COVID-19.
By EMMA NELSON , STAR TRIBUNE
